It’s funny, said John Stark girls soccer coach Heather Doucette. Each season of the mentor’s six-year tenure, the Lady Generals have reached the postseason, and each year the competition inevitably looks past them.

Big mistake.

“It seems a phenomenon to me in that every year we work hard and make it to the tournament, and every year we still seem to surprise other teams,” said Doucette. “John Stark is moving in a different direction, and yet we still don’t have the same respect that teams like Hanover, St. Thomas and Hollis-Brookline get.”

This year’s victims included 11-3-2 St. Thomas, the same foe the Lady Generals took to double overtime before falling in the Class I finale two years ago. The locals went on the road to beat this year’s No. 7 seed in overtime, 3-2, to open the tournament. Next they traveled up I-89 to the Vermont border, where they knocked off No. 2 Lebanon, 1-0, also in overtime.

But that run ended in the semifinals, when Stark gave third-seeded Hanover everything it could handle before falling, 1-0, at Nashua’s Stellos Stadium on Nov. 4.

Though she credited a tough regular-season schedule with providing her players the mental edge necessary to piece together their fine playoff run, Doucette said that didn’t make the finalfour loss any easier.

Still, two days after the finish, the coach said she caught some of her players already talking about next year.

If this season is any indication, 2009 should carry plenty of excitement.

After all, the Lady Generals suffered a handful of setbacks that could have deflated their lofty goals, yet they managed to bounce back and play their best when it counted most.

Why should their latest heartbreak be any different? JS loses seniors Brittany Purington, Rachel Quimby, Marissa Johnson and Joan Hamel, who departs after scoring the gamewinner against St. Thomas and assisting on Stark’s other three tourney goals.

But junior Lauren Macklin, who notched two of those tallies, including her own game-winner against Lebanon, returns.

“Joan Hamel is an outstanding leader, both on and off the field, and she’s unbeatable when she’s on and attacking the goal,” said Doucette. “But Lauren has great vision of field, great touch and distributes well. If you leave her alone, she’s going to score a goal.”

Macklin isn’t flashy, which may hurt her chances for Class I Player of the Year honors, but Doucette said opposing coaches have gone out of their way to recognize the junior’s contributions.

Among a solid lot of talented youngsters expected back are junior Alyssa Charest, among the top defenders in the state, and sophomore Melissa Purington, who anchors the midfield.

Also likely to return are Allison Harris, Kayla Hubbard, Katie Cullerot, Emily Whitmore, Megan Goslin, Abigail Peirgross, Emily Pineault and Megan Keim.

“My expectation is they’re going to come in and work hard and set some pretty decent goals for themselves,” said Doucette. “We have talent, but to win in the tournament you need talent and leadership, and if you do that, you’re always dangerous.”